Kesimpta® contains the active ingredient ofatumumab. It is a self-administered therapy used for the treatment of adults with the relapsing forms of MS to delay the progression of physical disability and reduce the frequency of relapse.
Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is a disease modifying drug (DMD) for relapsing remitting MS. You take Kesimpta as an injection under the skin once a month. It reduces the number of relapses by about two thirds (70%).
ACTRIMS 2023: TG aims to make Briumvi accessible to patients
Briumvi (ublituximab-xiiy) recently became the third anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).
OCREVUS is approved by the FDA to treat relapsing or primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). OCREVUS is given once every six months by an intravenous (IV) infusion.
On December 28, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Briumvi (ublituximab), a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) in adults, including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS, and active secondary-progressive MS.
Ocrevus and Tysabri account for over 85% of the patient share of multiple sclerosis medications. Ocrevus experienced a 5.6% year-over-year (YoY) growth, while all other top 10 medications experienced less than a 1.8% YoY change in variance.
Ocrelizumab is the only drug which has demonstrated efficacy in both relapsing and primary progressive forms of MS; alemtuzumab and cladribine have not been known to be used for primary-progressive MS.
Shingles vaccine (Zostavax®)
Zostavax, is a live-virus vaccine to prevent shingles. MS healthcare providers do not recommend live-virus vaccines for people with MS because these vaccines can lead to an increase in disease activity.
A: Inactivated vaccines are generally considered safe for people with MS including those taking a disease modifying therapy. Live attenuated vaccines are generally not recommended for a person with MS because their ability to cause disease is weakened but not totally inactivated.
Research indicates they can have life threatening side effects. In contrast, multiple sclerosis medications with the safest profile are interferon-β preparations, such as Avonex, and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone).
A new drug called ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) became available for primary progressive MS in 2018. It's an infusion you have every six months. To get it you must be early on in your primary progressive MS. Depending on your level of disability, 'early' means it's been between 10 and 15 years since your MS began.
Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) is a disease modifying drug (DMD) for relapsing remitting MS. You self-inject Copaxone under the skin either daily or three times a week to reduce the number and severity of relapses. It reduces the number of relapses by about one third (30%).
However certain factors, including some disabilities that may result from your MS, have been shown to increase the risk of a severe case of COVID-19: Progressive MS. Older age. Male sex.
your genes – MS isn't directly inherited, but people who are related to someone with the condition are more likely to develop it; the chance of a sibling or child of someone with MS also developing it is estimated to be around 2 to 3 in 100.
The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown. It's considered an immune mediated disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. In the case of MS , this immune system malfunction destroys the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord (myelin).
People with MS may be at higher risk of getting shingles because of reduced immune system function due to disease-modifying treatments. High-dose steroids, often used during relapses, may also increase the risk of a shingles outbreak. The Shingrix vaccine does not contain live virus and is safe for you to get.
You're more likely to catch a cold or flu virus if you have MS, especially if you take certain medicines that curb your immune system -- your body's defense against germs. And when you get sick with the flu, your MS raises the chances of health problems that may need treatment at your doctor's office or a hospital.
Because their immune systems are not working at full strength, people with MS have a greater chance of developing shingles. A 2021 study found that people who had suppressed immune systems from taking DMTs to treat their MS were at increased risk for shingles.
Diphenhydramine, sold as Benadryl, is a type of antihistamine that can help reduce the likelihood or severity of an allergic reaction to a multiple sclerosis (MS) infusion treatment. Antihistamines block histamines, chemicals made by white blood cells that cause allergy symptoms such as itchy skin, rash, and hives.
Exercise strengthens the muscles that help you walk. It also eases fatigue, boosts mood, and improves quality of life in people with MS. There's even some evidence that strength training might help slow MS damage in the brain. An exercise program for MS includes 150 minutes of "aerobics" each week.
Although there is no cure for MS, we can see a future where people can live free from its effects and not worry about their MS getting worse. There are now a number of health conditions - like rheumatoid arthritis or Type 1 diabetes – where there are no cures.
There are two drugs used for second line treatment (fingolimod and natalizumab) covered in another information sheet. The treatments do not cure MS, but can reduce the number of relapses.